Dispensing Tissue Box

ABSTRACT

A tissue box that, in the preferred embodiment, includes an additional and integral box cover section which may be pivoted away from the tissue box, then engaged with the same in a way that permits support on a flat surface and where the tissue box becomes substantially inverted, allowing for the removal of tissues in a substantially downward direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tissue box that dispenses tissues in a substantially downward direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Facial tissues were invented in 1924 by International Cellucotton Products Company (later to be called Kimberly-Clark) for removing makeup and creams from women's faces, and called Kleenex. That brand name was chosen to phonetically link it to Kotex, another product introduced only a few years earlier by this same company. A company researcher who was struggling with hay fever kept using their new Kleenex product to clear his nose. It was this inadvertent act which persuaded the company to market Kleenex as a disposable handkerchief. Since then, the tissue box has become as ubiquitous a sight as a wall clock or telephone.

Tissue boxes have changed little since their introduction in 1924. A portion of the box top is removed to expose the top tissue, then they are removed in succession until the bottom-most tissue is removed and the box discarded. One improvement in tissue boxes was to interleave the tissues, then provide a plastic film having a slit in the middle attached to the top of the tissue box through which tissues are pulled. Since the bottom of the top tissue is folded under the top of the next tissue, pulling out the first constrains the top of the next tissue to partially follow the first tissue out of the box via friction. That friction is released once the first tissue fully leaves the box. With the top portion of a tissue now outside the box, the operation is prepared to be repeated as often as tissues are removed.

There are at least two problems with the improved tissue box mentioned above. The first problem has to do with the increasing distance between the top of the tissue box and each succeeding tissue removed therefrom. As tissues are removed, and as the distance between the top of the box and the next tissue stored within increases, there typically arrives a point where the succeeding tissue fails to follow the leading tissue through the opening on the top.

Another problem with this type of tissue box, as well as most other conventional tissue boxes, is that tissues are removed from the top. This requires placement on “expensive real estate” surfaces, such as kitchen counters or work desks. Of course, they can, and sometimes are, placed on shelves. However, such placement normally requires removing the box from the shelf each time a tissue is needed.

There is presently a need for a tissue box which will dispense every tissue without fail. There is further a need for a tissue box which can be mounted on a shelf and dispense tissues without having to remove the tissue box from the shelf. The present invention overcomes the problems with conventional tissue boxes by providing a tissue box which dispenses tissues in a substantially downward direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a tissue box which includes an additional box cover section which may be pivoted and engaged within recesses formed on the tissue box ends, and once engaged, may serve to support the tissue box in a substantially inverted orientation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the printed side of a cardboard blank which is assembled to form the tissue box of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tissue box of the preferred embodiment assembled for packaging and retail distribution and sale.

FIG. 3 is a cut away perspective taken along line 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows the additional cover section pivoted away from the tissue box.

FIG. 5 shows the additional cover section pivoted into pockets formed on each tissue box end.

FIG. 6 depicts the tissue box of the preferred embodiment assembled for dispensing tissues.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following preferred embodiment of the invention IS set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.

Tissue boxes are manufactured by first printing one side of a sheet of rolled cardboard. After printing, the rolled cardboard is cut into individual blanks. Each blank is folded and glued around a stack of tissues to form a single box of tissues which is then packaged for distribution and retail sale. FIG. 1 is a print-side view of a cardboard blank which will be folded and glued about a stack of tissues to form the tissue box of the preferred embodiment. Panels labeled 1 through 4 comprise the top 2, bottom 4, front 1 and back 3 sides. Panels 5 and 6 form additional box cover sections. The lines shown between each panel are fold lines, and each panel will fold toward the non-printed side along these fold lines during assembly. Once fully assembled for distribution and retail sale, panel 5 will cover the tissue box back, and panel 6 will cover the tissue box top. Each panel has corresponding end tabs 1 a through 6 a, and 1 b through 6 b, which are glued together in the following manner in order to form the tissue box of the preferred embodiment. The print side of end tab 2 a will glue to the non-printed side of 4 a, then 2 b will glue to 4 b thus forming the top, bottom, front sides and two ends of the tissue-box. Glue will be applied to the non-printed sides of end tabs 1 a and 1 b. End tabs 1 a and 1 b will then be folded along lines 9 a and 9 b so that end tab corner 7 a will meet point 8 a, and end tab corner 7 b will meet point 8 b. This fold will be made so that the printed sides of these end tabs will be hidden, and one half of the glued, non-printed sides will be exposed when viewed from the printed side. Next, panel 1 will be folded to form the back of the tissue box with folded end tabs 1 a and 1 b each covering half of their respective box ends, to which they will also become glued. End panel 3 a will be folded down to contact the remaining exposed glue of folded end panel 1 a, and similarly end panel 3 b folded down to contact the remaining exposed glue of folded end panel 1 b. Next, end panel 5 a will be glued to end panel 6 a, and 5 b glued to 6 b, thus forming the additional box cover portion 12 which will be folded over the already completed tissue box, covering its back and top sides, ready for packaging and distribution as shown in FIG. 2. Tissue product may be inserted into the tissue box at any preferred time during the assembly operation.

In FIG. 3, which shows a cut away view taken along line 3 of FIG. 2, it is more clearly revealed how the assembled package is configured. The back 1 and top 2 of the tissue box are covered by panels 5 and 6 respectively of the additional box cover section.

When end panels 1 a and 1 b were folded and glued as mentioned above, they formed open, triangular pockets extending from the bottom-front corner of each box end to the top-back corner, to the top-front corner, then back to the bottom-front corner. This pocket area 10 is shaded in FIG. 4. To form a support for the tissue box, the additional box cover portion 12 is pivoted in the direction of arrow 13 while edges 11 a and 11 b are received into the pocket areas 10 at each end of the tissue box until edges 11 a and 11 b are fully seated into the pockets as shown in FIG. 5. At this point, the entire assembly is rotated in the direction of arrow 14 of FIG. 5 until panel 6 is downwardly facing and serves as the support as shown in FIG. 6. The final configuration shown in FIG. 6 permits tissues to be removed from the tissue box in a substantially downward direction.

As can be seen, the tissue box of the present invention lends itself for placement and use on shelves, thus freeing up space on kitchen counters, work desks, etc. It can also be seen that gravity will keep each succeeding tissue pressed against leading tissues withdrawn from the tissue box, thus overcoming the problem of increasing friction loss as more tissues are withdrawn. Other advantages include limiting tissue contamination from contaminants such as dust or animal fur. Since the tissue box is elevated, there is less likelihood of the tissues becoming wet when placed on a bathroom sink or in other wet environments.

The word “tissue” throughout the description of the preferred embodiment should not be limited to what is commonly referred to as a “facial tissue.” The word “tissue” may refer to napkins or towels or toilet paper or wipes or any flexible, dispensable sheet which may be dispensed from the above-described dispenser.

The tissue box of the preferred embodiment is disclosed as being made from cardboard. However, any suitable material may be used which could form the tissue box substantially as depicted above.

In the preferred embodiment, the additional cover section 12 is supported in a pocket area 10. However, the subject invention envisions any other means of supporting or attaching, such as adhesives, etc. Furthermore, integral means for supporting the tissue box in a substantially downward orientation is not limited to the additional cover section 12 design as described in the preferred embodiment. Alternate means of achieving the same are also anticipated.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claim. 

I claim:
 1. A tissue box for placement on a planar surface whereby said tissue box is maintained in a substantially inverted position so that tissues are dispensed in a substantially downward direction. 